Pet Dental Care
Support your pet’s health and happiness with the comprehensive dental care at Staples Mill Animal Hospital.
Did you know?
- Periodontal disease is one of the few diseases that is 100% preventable.
- Dental disease is the most common major health problem that affects dogs and cats.
- By two years of age, 70% to 80% of dogs and cats have some degree of dental disease.
- Good dental care has increased canine and feline lifespan.
Signs of Dental Disease
Common signs of dental disease include bad breath (no, “doggy breath” is not normal) and tartar accumulation. Tartar is a combination of food, saliva, and bacteria that attach to the tooth surface. Once tartar forms, it can’t be brushed away, and a professional dental cleaning is required for removal. Left untreated, bacteria-laden tartar accumulation leads to gums, teeth, and surrounding tissues infection.
The Cleaning Process
Before a Cleaning
During your pet’s routine wellness appointment, we will perform an oral exam to evaluate their health. If our veterinarian has determined that your pet would benefit from a professional dental cleaning, we will provide you with an estimate, perform the appropriate pre-anesthetic bloodwork, and schedule the procedure. If you schedule your pet’s dental cleaning within 30 days of our recommendation, we will apply a 10% discount to all services related to the dental cleaning.
During A Cleaning
Professional dental cleanings require anesthesia to minimize your pet’s stress and allow our team to perform a thorough cleaning. During your pet’s anesthetic exam, we will perform blood testing to ensure your pet is a good anesthetic candidate.
During your pet’s dental cleaning, the following steps will be performed to restore their oral health:
- Thorough oral exam, including probing and gingival pocket depth measurement
- Hand and ultrasonic scaling to remove tartar
- Subgingival curettage, to remove tartar below the gum line
- Tooth polishing
- Fluoride treatment
- Accurate charting of all significant findings
If a problem area is detected, digital dental X-rays will determine the best course of action to address the issue.
After a Dental Cleaning
When your pet is discharged, you will receive detailed instructions for their aftercare, before and after photos and copies of any dental X-rays that were taken. We will schedule a courtesy recheck if your pet requires any extractions. We will also recommend the best ways to keep your pet’s smile healthy after their procedure.